Dynamo launches the first all electric London Black Cab in 120 years

Dynamo, a UK-based vehicle manufacturer, has unveiled the first 100% electric, zero emission, ‘Hackney Carriage’ black cab for London that has been officially approved by Transport for London (TfL), the Dynamo Taxi.

The last time London had a 100% electric taxi was 120 years ago, when Queen Victoria was still on the throne. The Bersey Taxi, was introduced in 1897 and was operational until 1899. It had a range of 30 miles between each recharge.

Dynamo Managing Director Brendan O'Toole unveiled the Dynamo Taxi, based on a Nissan e-NV200 Evalia MPV, at the International Clean Air Conference at London City Hall in front of attendees including New Minister for the Future of Transport George Freeman, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd. Managing Director Kalyana Sivagnanam.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said:“London's black cabs are known around the world, which is why I am pleased to launch the first all-electric London black cab by Dynamo. Working with cabbies to go electric is a key part of our plans to improve London's air quality. The Dynamo Taxi will accelerate the retirement of polluting diesel taxis from city streets across the UK, improving air quality, helping to tackle the climate emergency and to create a green economy.”

Brendan O'Toole, Founder and CEO of Dynamo, said: “The UK's new car market is experiencing an electric revolution, with record numbers of fully electric vehicle registrations taking place each year. Electric vehicle technology is now a viable alternative to petrol and diesel vehicles, and it's imperative the UK's taxi market changes with the times. The Dynamo Taxi is the UK's first Transport for London-approved fully electric taxi and is designed with both drivers and passengers in mind. With a low starting price, and a reliable vehicle architecture in the Nissan e-NV200, we are offering a truly unique solution to the tens of thousands of taxi drivers in London and cities across the UK.”

The Dynamo Taxi is expected to accelerate the retirement of current diesel taxis from city streets across the UK, improving air quality. Taxis currently account for 16% of all vehicle nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in central London, according to TfL figures. To curb emissions, Transport for London has introduced new, tougher, licencing requirements for new taxis, limiting their emissions to 50g/km CO₂ and a mandatory zero emissions range of at least 30 miles. Any new taxi vehicle has to meet these emissions criteria to operate within London.

London has also committed to being a zero carbon city by 2050, with plans to introduce local zero emissions zones on top of the current ULEZ. Research by the Mayor of London's office found the London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone has reduced roadside Nitrogen Oxide pollution by a third since its introduction earlier this April.

Speaking at the launch Kalyana Sivagnanam, Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd. Managing Director, said: “Nissan has been pioneering modern electric vehicles for nearly a decade now and we are keen to showcase how viable our EVs are and the role they can play in shaping the future of zero emission mobility. The e-NV200 launched in 2014, of which the Dynamo Taxi platform is based on, has proven its worth with over 25,000 vehicles sold in Europe, making it the top selling LCV electric vehicle in Europe to date. We are excited to see companies such as Dynamo taking our vehicles and developing them for different uses to address some of today's air quality challenges.”

Based on the Nissan e-NV200 Evalia MPV, the Dynamo Taxi has a range of up to 187 miles from a single charge (WLTP City) - far above the average distance taxi drivers in London cover daily - and is compatible with 50kW CHAdeMO rapid charging. The Dynamo Taxi costs £55,495 ($71,589), and is eligible for £7,500 ($9,675) in Government Plug-in Car Grant funding bringing the price down to £47,995 ($61,914) for drivers, making it very competitive in the EV taxi market.

Taking the highly successful Nissan e-NV200 Evalia MPV as a basis, each Dynamo Taxi is re-engineered into a wheelchair-accessible vehicle capable of carrying up to five passengers by Dynamo at its Coventry headquarters. Dynamo has fully engineered the interior of the e-NV200 Evalia MPV for the taxi market, including the latest in contactless payment solutions, passenger and driver convenience.

Drivers will benefit from a built-in infotainment system, heated seats and steering wheel, while passengers have custom-built seating, wheelchair accessibility and an enlarged glass roof for extra lighting. To satisfy Transport for London approval, Dynamo has reduced the Nissan's turning circle to meet the TfL's 25-foot turning circle requirements, allowing it to tackle the tightest of London's streets.

The Dynamo Taxi comes with Nissan's eight year/100,000 mile battery warranty, five years/60,000 mile warranty on EV dedicated components, and three-year/60,000 mile general warranty. The Nissan e-NV200 lithium battery warranty also protects against capacity loss below nine bars of capacity (out of 12) for a period of eight years/100,000 miles. Parts modified by Dynamo are covered by Dynamo's own three year/60,000 mile warranty.